Depression

Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists

As many as 17.3 million adults in the United States are diagnosed with symptoms of major depression every year. To manage your sadness and thoughts of hopelessness, the compassionate team at Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists offers comprehensive treatment for depression. At their offices in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, and Orange, California, the skilled psychiatrists evaluate the severity of your depression and create a custom treatment plan to meet your needs. Learn more about available treatments for depression by calling the office nearest you.

Depression Q & A

What is depression?

Depression is a serious mood disorder that can influence how you feel, think, and behave. It’s sometimes called clinical depression or major depressive disorder. There are several types of depression that are classified by the severity and type of symptoms you have or the situation that causes your condition.

The risk for depression can increase as you age or if you have a family history of the condition. Depression is thought to be caused by genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, and it can affect anyone, including adults, teens, and children.

Common types of depression include:

Persistent depressive disorder

Also called dysthymia, persistent depressive disorder usually lasts for two years or more and involves several episodes and symptoms of major depression.

Seasonal affective disorder

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that typically affects people during the winter months due to the limited availability of natural sunlight.

Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression can develop in a mother soon after childbirth, possibly due to a change in hormone levels, and it leads to extreme sadness and difficulty caring for self and the newborn baby.

What are the symptoms of depression?

Depression affects everyone differently with symptoms that range from mild to severe. In order to be diagnosed with depression, your symptoms must be present for two weeks or longer. These symptoms can include:

Irritability

Chronic fatigue

Persistent sadness

Difficulties concentrating

Loss of interest in activities

Feelings of guilt or hopelessness

Without treatment, depression can lead to suicidal thoughts or self-harm. You may also develop physical side effects of depression, including frequent headaches, stomach cramps, and digestive issues.

What treatments are available for depression?

Treatment for depression is most successful when you seek help for your symptoms as early as possible. You should schedule an evaluation at Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists when sadness, overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, or other symptoms begin interfering with your life.

After an evaluation of your symptoms, your provider creates a treatment plan with the goal of reducing the severity of your depressive symptoms.

In many cases, treatment for depression involves a combination of antidepressant medications and talk therapy. Your provider can recommend the right schedule for therapy based on the type of symptoms you have and their severity.

In the event medications and therapy aren’t effective in relieving your depression symptoms, the skilled team at Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists offers alternative therapies, including transcranial magnetic stimulation that uses electromagnetic energy to treat the areas of your brain that control mood.